Proverbs 28

28 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but the righteous are bold as a lion.
² When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,
    but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
    its stability will long continue.
³ A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law strive against them.
⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
⁶ Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
    than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
⁷ The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
    but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
⁸ Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit^[a]
    gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.
⁹ If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his prayer is an abomination.
¹⁰ Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
    will fall into his own pit,
    but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
¹¹ A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
    but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.
¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
¹³ Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
    but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
¹⁴ Blessed is the one who fears the Lord^[b] always,
    but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
¹⁵ Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶ A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
¹⁷ If one is burdened with the blood of another,
    he will be a fugitive until death;^[c]
    let no one help him.
¹⁸ Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
¹⁹ Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
²¹ To show partiality is not good,
    but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
²² A stingy man^[d] hastens after wealth
    and does not know that poverty will come upon him.
²³ Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than he who flatters with his tongue.
²⁴ Whoever robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is a companion to a man who destroys.
²⁵ A greedy man stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
²⁶ Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
²⁷ Whoever gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
²⁸ When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Footnotes

1. Proverbs 28:8 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor
2. Proverbs 28:14 Hebrew lacks the Lord
3. Proverbs 28:17 Hebrew until the pit
4. Proverbs 28:22 Hebrew A man whose eye is evil

The Righteous Are Bold as a Lion

28 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.

² Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged.

³ A poor man who oppresses the poor
Is like a driving rain ^[a]which leaves no food.

⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But such as keep the law contend with them.

⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand all.

⁶ Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

⁷ Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
But a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸ One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.

⁹ One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰ Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
But the blameless will inherit good.

¹¹ The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding searches him out.

¹² When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory;
But when the wicked arise, men ^[b]hide themselves.

¹³ He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

¹⁴ Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

¹⁵ Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
Is a wicked ruler over poor people.

¹⁶ A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

¹⁷ A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit;
Let no one help him.

¹⁸ Whoever walks blamelessly will be ^[c]saved,
But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

¹⁹ He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

²¹ To ^[d]show partiality is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

²² A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,
And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.

²³ He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue.

²⁴ Whoever robs his father or his mother,
And says, “It is no transgression,”
The same is companion to a destroyer.

²⁵ He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

²⁶ He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

²⁷ He who gives to the poor will not lack,
But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

²⁸ When the wicked arise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.

Footnotes

1. Proverbs 28:3 Lit. and there is no bread
2. Proverbs 28:12 Lit. will be searched for
3. Proverbs 28:18 delivered
4. Proverbs 28:21 Lit. recognize faces